LEWISTON – The Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute will offer Quit for Life, a five-session workshop designed to teach participants to become tobacco-free, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The workshop will include instruction on preparing to quit, getting through the first few days without tobacco, avoiding triggers to start using again and staying tobacco-free forever.

Quit for Life participants will receive coping strategies, information on overcoming addiction, preventing relapse, managing stress, exercise and nutrition.

To address the addictive nature of nicotine, the program will explain the benefits of nicotine replacement (including patch, gum, lozenge, nasal spray, inhaler), Zyban and Chantix, how they are used and what the side effects might be.

The group setting will provide support and the opportunity for sharing ideas about successful strategies for quitting tobacco.

The series will begin Jan. 9 in the Wellness Center Multi-Purpose Room at Central Maine Medical Center. Other class dates are Jan. 16, 23 and 30 and Feb. 6. Quit Day will be Wednesday, Jan. 23. The classes will run from 6:30. to 7:30 p.m.

A fee will be charged for participation, but no one will be turned away because of inability to pay. Class size is limited and preregistration is required. To register for the program, call Aaron Swift at 795-2473.